Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

No matter the genre, chick-lit, fantasy, poetry, romance or others, I love hearing what inspires fellow authors to write. Would you mind sharing WHY you write? This could be a personal mission or a story about what inspires you <3

I'll go first. My writing mission is to inspire empathy and understanding of different points of view through lightweight book club fiction. WHY? Polarization is killing healthy discourse on important topics, dividing friendships and families. My novels dare to tell stories about taboo topics, and then tell book club readers to discuss those topics in real life. The novel format serves as a humor-filled vehicle to consider hot-button topics from a fictional character's point of view, lowering the stakes dramatically and opening the door for empathy with another person's experience. Reading about taboo topics independently in the comfort of their own home gives the reader time to sort through their emotions and opinions calmly before a discussion (something people don't have time to do when uncle so-in-so brings up that topic at Thanksgiving). And the discussion itself is where the magic happens. Using the provided book club discussion questions in a casual living room setting with friends who have come specifically to discuss the book sets up a low-pressure scenario to have a civil conversation (something we are seriously lacking today).

If someone hasn't told you today, you are awesome - keep going. <3 Corinne

I am a retired pensionner (age: 68) who loves writing as a hobby. I do not write in order to make money but in order to share the products of my imagination with others around the World. I believe that ideas that are kept to oneself and are not shared are wasted ideas. Since I often write about historical events or periods of time and do extensive research before writing my novels, I also hope at the same time to educate readers about history.